Why Micronutrient Testing

Mainsail will offer Senior Care facilities a unique blood test through a CLIA Certified national lab to assist in understanding patients’ needs and monitor progress while on our micronutrient program. The test will include a serum Vitamin D level test as well as a functional test called Vitamin Deficiency Anemia (VDA).

Vitamin Deficiency Anemia Testing

Vitamin Deficiency Anemia is a lack of healthy red blood cells caused by lower than normal amounts of certain vitamins. Vitamins linked to vitamin deficiency anemia include folate, vitamin B-12 and vitamin C. Vitamin deficiency anemia can occur if you don’t eat enough folate, vitamin B-12 or vitamin C or vitamin deficiency anemia can occur if your body has trouble absorbing or processing these vitamins.

Advantages of a VDA Test

The advantage of a VDA test is that it allows for the detection of physiological changes that are associated with vitamin deficiency vs. simply looking for blood or serum vitamin concentrations. This makes it a direct test for the consequence of vitamin deficiency. This test accounts for iron deficiency anemia and will specify if the anemia is due to iron deficiency or associated with vitamin deficiencies. The test will be sold in a simple, sampling kit with complete directions on how to sample, seal and send the package for testing. Each report will be reviewed and signed by our Medical Director and will be shared with the designated individual at the Senior Care facility. This will be a simple, affordable test to quantify the need for specific micronutrient supplementation and to measure progress over time.